Home Wireless Earbuds Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jabra Elite 5 Review

Last updated on Mar 30, 2024   7 minute read
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Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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Reasons why you might like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Overall Score 7.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP54
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 4.5 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode
VS
Jabra Elite 5

Jabra Elite 5

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Reasons why you might like the Jabra Elite 5

Overall Score 6.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP55
  • Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)
  • Battery Life of 9 hours
  • Has Usb Type-C
  • Number Of Microphones of 6 only
  • Has Ambient Sound Mode

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jabra Elite 5 Review In Summary

Category Features Bowers & Wilkins PI7 Jabra Elite 5
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IP54 IP55
weight 50g 10g
has no wires or cables
sweat resistance
has stereo speakers
SOUND QUALITY has active noise cancellation (noise control)
has passive noise reduction
driver unit size 9.2mm 6mm
lowest frequency 10Hz 20Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 20,000Hz
POWER battery life 4.5hours 9hours
battery life of charging case 18hours 27hours
charge time 3hours 2hours
has wireless charging
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY has usb type-c
bluetooth version v5 v5.2
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
has aac
has aptx adaptive
has aptx hd
MICROPHONE number of microphones 6only 6only
has a noise-canceling microphone
EXTRAS has ambient sound mode
has in/on-ear detection
has find earbuds feature
supports fast charging
has a mute function
control panel placed on a device
warranty period 2Years
has voice prompts
travel bag is included
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Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 Vs. Jabra Elite 5 Review In Detail

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 IP54
Jabra Elite 5 IP55

Ingress protection ratings refer to the rating of protection given by an enclosure, against dust and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating represents protection against solids such as dust, while the second refers to resistance against liquids (water).

Having a value of IP54, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's rating is read as, the first number of 5 denotes that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety, and the second value of 4 means that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.

Compared to the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, Jabra Elite 5 have a rating of IP55 meaning that they both have the same rating against dust and that of liquids is that, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 has a lower liquid rating than Jabra Elite 5

Weight

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 50g
Jabra Elite 5 10g

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a weight of 50g . We consider a lower weight best because lighter devices are easier to transport.

Jabra Elite 5, at 10g are lighter than the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 with a difference -40g

Has No Wires Or Cables

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

For a device to be true wireless it should have no cables linking any part of the device together, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 are true wireless for this case since they have no cables. This is an important distinction as some wireless earbuds have wires connecting the pair of earbuds .

Jabra Elite 5 also is true wireless since it doesn't have cables connecting the two earbuds together.

Sweat Resistance

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Jabra Elite 5 have sweat resistance

Has Stereo Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have stereo speakers, what this means is that Bowers & Wilkins PI7's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

Both Jabra Elite 5 and Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have stereo speakers

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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Sound Quality

Has Active Noise Cancellation (Noise Control)

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Active noise cancellation makes use of advanced kind of tech to reduce unwanted ambient sounds. How it works, it studies the sound pattern of incoming noise and inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 (sound from your surrounding) then producing -1 (inverted noise) giving zero resulting in a reduced level of noise.

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, good for your ears as you don't need to crank up the earbuds volume to outcompete background noise.

Jabra Elite 5 too have ANC making either of the devices ideal for flights and rush hour travels. The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and Jabra Elite 5 work with different noise cancellation types, pick the setting that suits your commute or that enhances your relaxation time.

Has Passive Noise Reduction

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 sit tightly in place, creating a sound covering that reduces background sounds and also prevents the earbuds music from leaking out .

Both Jabra Elite 5, and Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have passive noise reduction this implies that both reduce ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.

Driver Unit Size

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 9.2mm
Jabra Elite 5 6mm

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a unit size of 9.2mm in diameter, the bigger the unit the more powerful, and can produce better bass. A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the sound made by the device.

Jabra Elite 5 driver unit is 6mm in diameter, which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 3.2mm , many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.

However, large drivers usually have difficulty producing high frequencies so yes, larger drivers can generate louder sound, but this does not imply that they produce better quality sound.

Lowest Frequency

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 10Hz
Jabra Elite 5 20Hz

Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well a particular audio device produces low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal on its way through.

Jabra Elite 5's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, this means that Bowers & Wilkins PI7 can produce a juicier bass than the Jabra Elite 5

Highest Frequency

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 20,000Hz
Jabra Elite 5 20,000Hz

Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response tells how well an audio component produces high human frequencies and if it changes to the signal on its way through.

Jabra Elite 5's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble

Power

Battery Life

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 4.5hours
Jabra Elite 5 9hours

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery life is 4.5 hours, these last less than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is commonly given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.

Jabra Elite 5's battery life is more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 4.5 hours . Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will no longer play for long like they used to.

Battery Life Of Charging Case

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 18hours
Jabra Elite 5 27hours

This is given by the vendor, and the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's case has a full charge of 18 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before having to recharge the case itself.

Jabra Elite 5's charging case has a battery life of 27 hours, more than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 9 hours

Charge Time

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 3hours
Jabra Elite 5 2hours

It takes 3 hours to fully charge the Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery. It is recommended to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds when they have been in storage for long periods.

Jabra Elite 5 takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery, less than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 by 1 hours

Has Wireless Charging

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you just place down on a supported charging pad.

Jabra Elite 5 also support wireless charging, always look out for the charging standard of the earbuds.

Has A Battery Level Indicator

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the earbuds has a low battery. The battery indicator lights show the charging state of your device and charging case.

Jabra Elite 5 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you to determine the charging state of your device, whether fully charged, or having a low battery.

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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Connectivity

Has Usb Type-C

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support USB TYPE-C, a standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.

Jabra Elite 5 too have USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current electronics.

Bluetooth Version

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 v5
Jabra Elite 5 v5.2

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in range, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.

Jabra Elite 5 has a Bluetooth version of 5.2, newer than that of Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 10meters
Jabra Elite 5 10meters

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth.

Jabra Elite 5 have a maximum range of 10meters, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7

Has Aac

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.

Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 will work fine with your iPad. If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.

The Jabra Elite 5 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.

Has Aptx Adaptive

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).

Has Aptx Hd

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).

Microphone

Number Of Microphones

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 6only
Jabra Elite 5 6only

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have 6 microphones.

The Jabra Elite 5 microphones are 6, equal to that of the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 . More microphones record better sound quality and help the earbuds to filter out noise.

Has A Noise-Canceling Microphone

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are made to filter out noise from the earbuds' sound.

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
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Extras

Has Ambient Sound Mode

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient noises so that they can still be heard even while wearing them

The Jabra Elite 5 support ambient sound mode as well, it’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of your surrounding, for example when you’re having a jog but would still want to hear traffic.

Has In/On-Ear Detection

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when they are removed from your ears .

Has Find Earbuds Feature

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

When misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support the find earbuds feature.

Supports Fast Charging

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging. Most often, technologies like MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to lower the time it takes to fully charge the earbuds.

Jabra Elite 5 support fast charging. This kind is similar to regular charging, just that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery is charged to 50% in thirty minutes.

Has A Mute Function

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a mute function, they support the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.

The Jabra Elite 5 too have the mute function. It means that you can turn off the earbuds' microphone, but still hear the other party's voice.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

With the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, so you can access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the earbuds.

The Jabra Elite 5 too have a control panel on them.

Warranty Period

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5 2Years

Jabra Elite 5 have a warranty period of 2 Years, the period of time that warrant free repair and adjustment services in case of a malfunction occurring under normal use that has followed instruction manuals.

Has Voice Prompts

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is a problem with the connection.

The Jabra Elite 5 too support voice prompts .i.e the earbuds notifies you if the battery is running low, and it's time to recharge the earbuds.

Travel Bag Is Included

Bowers & Wilkins PI7
Jabra Elite 5

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 come with a special case. Carrying earphones without a case, or putting them in your pockets without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged.

Jabra Elite 5 too have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.